Chapter 21

Chapter

Twenty-One

Maxxon

I stood in the bustling hangar bay, my pulse quickening with each passing moment. The air was thick with the acrid smell of scorched metal and engine fuel, a familiar scent that usually brought me comfort but now only added to my mounting anxiety. Around me, a cacophony of sounds echoed off the high ceiling—the clang of tools against black, hull plating, the hiss of welding torches, and the constant chatter of mechanics and crew members.

Fighters damaged in the recent Earth battle were being repaired, their ebony hulls marred by plasma burns and scorched by lasers, while pilots in dark flight suits boarded cockpits and checked instruments. I watched a transport arrive, bringing the first batch of volunteer tributes to the station.

No longer would Drexian mates arrive with me and be taken for debriefing. No longer would they need to have our existence explained. No longer would there be women who rejected the entire idea. As much as I would miss my job, the change was not all bad.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves as I spotted Dorn's bride waiting for the women from Earth to disembark. I'd been told I could find her here, and I wasted no time striding to her.

"Excuse me." I cleared my throat when I was standing in front of her.

She glanced at me and smiled. "Hi!" Then something flickered across her face. "Was I supposed to send you something or meet with you? Did I forget to authorize something?" She ran a hand through her long, brown hair. "I'm sorry. I'm not getting a lot of sleep lately with the baby."

"No," I said quickly. "You didn't forget anything, but I did want to talk to you."

Her shoulder sagged and her smile widened again. "Okay, what's up?"

As many trips to Earth as I'd taken, I was still caught off guard by humans' casual way of speaking and their figures of speech that meant nothing close to what you would expect. I fought the urge to, indeed, look up, although I was familiar with that expression. "I would like to volunteer to lead the on-planet coordination for the volunteer tribute bride program. Or be involved in some way."

Her brows lifted as she eyed me.

I gave her what I hoped was a charming smile. "Who better than a former procurer? I know Earth, I know the challenges we might face, I understand human women."

As much as one could understand the baffling creatures, I wanted to add but wisely decided against.

She studied me for a long moment, and doubt flickered through me. Then she nodded. "You're right. Your experience makes you a real asset."

"Thank you." I almost released a heavy sigh of relief, but I stopped myself. I didn't want her or anyone to think that I had ulterior motives for going back to Earth. Even though we were now taking more tributes from Earth, I was walking a dangerous line by pursuing one for myself.

Mandy slid her gaze to a device in her hands. "You're in luck…"

"Maxxon," I told her, my cheeks warming at the realization that I hadn't introduced myself.

Recognition flickered behind her eyes. "The procurer who was trapped on Earth during the battle. I heard about your adventures."

Not all about my adventures, I thought as I nodded.

"Well, Maxxon, we have a transport returning to Earth right about now, so if you're ready to get to work, you're welcome to hop on it." She waved at a vessel with its ramp down and engines already humming. "Good luck."

I gave her a quick bow with my head before a burst of laughter drew both of our attention. Serge had rushed up the transport ramp as soon as it had touched down, and he was now waving at a group of newly arrived women to follow him. Their excitement was palpable as the volunteer tributes smiled and peered around the hangar bay with expressions of wonder, a stark contrast to the expressions of shock I'd grown accustomed to when I'd returned with tribute brides.

Despite his small stature, Serge was unmistakable in a shimmering turquoise suit that seemed to change color with every movement. He gestured wildly while explaining something to a tall blonde tribute, his purple hair standing straight up in short spikes. Reina, her blue swirl of gravity-defying hair swaying with each step, was guiding another cluster toward the wide double doors, her chirpy voice audible even over the din of the hangar.

The enthusiasm of these women was a good sign, wasn't it? If these volunteers were so excited to be here, surely Allie would want to come. I'd tell her that she was more to me than just fun with no strings attached, that I couldn't stop thinking about her, that I—

I cut off my runaway thoughts with a hard jerk of my head as I spun around to the departing transport. First, I had to find her. I had to see if she even wanted me.

A sick feeling settled in my stomach. What if she didn't want me? What if I was making a colossal mistake? The thought of her rejecting me, of seeing shock or worse, pity, in her eyes, made me want to turn around and forget the whole crazy plan.

"Maxxon!" A familiar voice boomed over the chattering women and clanging tools.

I turned to see Torven and Dakar approaching. As usual, Dakar was grinning and Torven looked like he was ready to challenge someone to a fight.

Dakar clapped me on the back when they reached me. "Heading back to Earth?"

Torven grunted, his perpetual scowl deepening. "Why are you going back? We don't need to snatch women anymore."

"I'm helping with the volunteer program." I fought the urge to drop my gaze under the Drexian's scrutiny. "On-planet coordination."

Torven grunted again and stomped up the ramp into the transport without another word.

Dakar laughed and shook his head. "Don't mind him. He's just grumpy to have to leave his bride again. He's a Drexian besotted, but don't dare say that to him."

The thought would have never crossed my mind.

As Dakar and I started up the ramp behind Torven, another transport burst through the wide-mouthed energy forcefield and landed faster and with less grace than usual.

"Heavens to Betsy!" Serge's shrill voice cut through the noise as the ship powered down. "Now there are too many brides! How am I supposed to keep up? I'd need to clone myself!"

"Heavens to Betsy?" I muttered.

"Serge has had a lot of Southern brides, and he likes to pick up their expressions." Dakar ran a hand through his loose hair. "Stick around him long enough and he'll start talking about buttering his biscuit."

I wasn't sure I wanted to know what that meant.

Dakar pulled his hair up into a knot on the top of his head. "It's a good thing we're leaving. I do not want to be on the station with a fleet of hysterical Serges."

As Dakar continued onto our ship, I cast one last glance at the newly arrived stream of women Serge was now fluttering around with his hands flapping.

Then I saw her.

For a moment, my heart stopped. Dark hair, that confident set of shoulders I'd recognize anywhere. But it couldn't be. It was impossible. Allie wouldn't be here.

I blinked hard, and when I looked again, the back of the woman I'd thought was Allie was gone.

"Impossible," I told myself as I followed Dakar up the ramp.

As I strapped myself into my seat, I thought about what I was doing. I'd delayed joining an Inferno Force crew for this chance. I was risking my career and breaking a dozen rules to find her. I hoped I wasn't making the biggest mistake of my life.